Watch display case

ABSTRACT

A display case for a wrist watch provided with dial illuminating means comprises a pedestal which houses means, such as an electronic multivibrator circuit, for intermittently actuating the dial illuminating means. The watch can be pivotally supported in a case on the pedestal.

United States Patent Brien 1 June 20, 1972 54] WATCH DISPLAY CASE 3,234,847 2/1966 Williams ..40/130 L x 1,949,519 3/1934 Wagennals .....40/1 30 L [721 Invent: Andre Bneng Rue Germam 31 1,622,196 3/1927 Howell ..40/l26 B Fabreville, V1lle de Laval, Quebec, Canada FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed: June 23, 1970 871,377 6/1961 Great Britain ..40/l30 L [21] Appl' 49060 Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Richard Carter [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher July 8, Switzerland [52] us. Cl. ..40/126 B, 40/130 L A display case for a wrist watch provided with dial illuminat- 51 ..G09f 19/00 g means comprises a Pedestal which houses means, u as [58] Field of Search 40/126 B, 52, 130 L; 58/50; an electronic multivibrator circuit, for intermittently actuating 206/4513 4514 451 75 the dial illuminating means. The watch can be pivotally supported in a case on the pedestal. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1,010,245 11/1911 Fielding ..40/126 B vii/4| I! 1 WATCH DISPLAY CASE.

This invention relates to the display of watches, for example in store windows.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved display case in which a watch having dial illuminating means can be attractively displayed.

According to the invention, a display case for a watch provided with dial illuminating means comprises means for intermittently actuating the dial illuminating means.

With such a display case, the dial illuminating feature of the watch can thus be brought to the buyer's attention, and this focuses attention onto the other features of the watch.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display case according to the invention with a watch in the presentation position; and

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the means for intermittently actuating the dial illuminating means.

The display case shown in FIG. 1 is specially designed for the presentation and showing off of a watch 1 provided with means for illuminating the dial. The particular watch shown can be similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,018,614 to the present inventor and comprises an electric bulb 3 located above the dial 2. Bulb 3 is normally supplied, when the watch is worn, by one or more batteries housed in an extension 4 to the watch case 5. A switch (not shown) is provided so that the user can switch on bulb 3 at will, so as to illuminate the dial.

The display case supporting watch 1 comprises a pedestal 6 inside which is mounted a device for intermittently supplying current from a power source, independent of the watch, so as to periodically illuminate the bulb 3 in its displayed position, for example in a store window.

The device for intermittently supplying current from the power source, such as a battery of dry cells 7, comprises, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, two transistors 0,, Q a capacitor C and six resistors R to R The bulb is also indicated by reference numeral 3 in this circuit diagram. A switch 8 is additionally provided on one side of the pedestal 6 to enable manual switching on or of the circuit supplying bulb 3. This electronic circuit forms a type of multivibrator circuit automatically ensuring, once switch 8 is closed, intermittent feed of current to bulb 3.

In the illustrated embodiment of the display case, the electronic circuit as well as the battery 7 are housed in the pedestal 6. This pedestal supports a case 9 having a cover 10 hinged thereto. Inside case 9 is fixed a ring-shaped support 11 having a bent over projection 12 pivoted by a rivet 13 to a foot 14 fixed to the bottom 15 of case 9. The ring-shaped support 11 can be folded down by pivoting about rivet 13 so that it lays parallel to the bottom 15, in which position cover 10 can be closed.

Ring-shaped support 11 is adapted to hold a wrist watch 1 having a bracelet 16 fitting around support 11. Conducting wires 17 are led through a hole in bottom 15 and connected to bulb 3 of the watch 1 by means of the connectors normally used for the battery of cells in extension 4 of watch case 5.

With such a display case, the illumination device for dial 2 of watch 1 can be intermittently actuated for long periods, since powerful batteries can be installed in pedestal 6 and the bulb 3 has a very low power consumption. However, as a variant, it would be possible to dispense with battery 7 and use a line voltage connection with a transformer; this solution would be particularly useful when a large number of watches were being simultaneously displayed.

As a further variant, any other electronic or electrical device for intermittently switching on or off the bulb could be employed, for example a bi-metallic strip device.

Of course, the described and illustrated display case can also be used to display, for example in a store window, a dummy watch, i.e. a watch for identical appearance to the watches sold, but not provided with a movement.

It is also possible to provide a display case with a circuit for sequentially actuating the dial illumination means of a plurality of watches.

lclaim:

1. In combination, a display case and wrist watch, said watch having an integral electrical dial illumination means, the display case having means integral with said case for supplying and automatically intermittently feeding electric current to said illumination means, a support in said case carrying the watch, and electrical conducting means connecting the means for intermittently feeding electric current to the dial illumination means.

2. The combination of a display case and a watch according to claim 1, including a top hingedly fixed to a bottom and a support pivotally mounted on the bottom of the case and movable between a folded down position in which the case can be closed and an upright display position with the case open.

3. The combination of a display case and a watch according to claim 1, in which the means for intermittently supplying electric current comprises an electronic multi-vibrator circuit.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which the watch is a dummy wrist watch. 

1. In combination, a display case and wrist watch, said watch having an integral electrical dial illumination means, the display case having means integral with said case for supplying and automatically intermittently feeding electric current to said illumination means, a support in said case carrying the watch, and electrical conducting means connecting the means for intermittently feeding electric current to the dial illumination means.
 2. The combination of a display case and a watch according to claim 1, including a top hingedly fixed to a bottom and a support pivotally mounted on the bottom of the case and movable between a folded down position in which the case can be closed and an upright display position with the case open.
 3. The combination of a display case and a watch according to claim 1, in which the means for intermittently supplying electric current comprises an electronic multi-vibrator circuit.
 4. The combination of claim 1 in which the watch is a dummy wrist watch. 